A poll conducted by a nonpartisan religious research group finds that 3 in 10 Republicans agree with the statement “Because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.”
The poll results were released Monday by the Public Religion Research Institute, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C..
PRRI said that 11% of Democrats and 17% of independents concurred that violence could be needed to save the United States. Among Republicans who most trust far-right news sources, agreement soared to 40%. Among all respondents, there was 18% agreement.
The poll noted that following the attacks on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, “the prospect of political violence threatening a peaceful transfer of power has become more than an abstract question.”
You can read the entire poll at this link.
Nearly 75% Say America Is Force for Good in World
While many of the poll’s queries illuminated the nation’s political divide, 74% of those participating in the poll indicated that America has always been a force for good in the world.
In addition, more than 9 in ten Americans say that it is somewhat or very important to being “truly American” to believe in individual freedoms. Among them: freedom of speech (95% ), the right to vote for every citizen (93%), and accepting people of diverse racial and religious grounds (92%).
However, more than two-thirds of Republicans (70%) say American culture and way of life have changed for the worse since the 1950s. In contrast, 63% of Democrats say that American culture and way of life have changed for the better. Among all Americans, 52% say it has changed for the worse.
Other Poll Results
Other poll highlights:
- 56% say that newcomers strengthen American society, compared to 40% who say that newcomers threaten traditional American customs and values.
- 62% say that immigrants living in the U.S. illegally should become citizens upon meeting certain requirements.
- 74% of Republicans say that the values of Islam are at odds with American values and ways of life. Among Democrats, it’s 35%.
- 22% of Americans say their extended family relationships have been strained to the breaking point over COVID-19 vaccinations.
- 52% of Americans view President Joe Biden favorably; 46% view him unfavorably. But only 10% of Republicans view him favorably.
